HAPPY BIRTHDAY MSHAIRI

Mshairi, lover of all things purple, science fiction, fantasy and old black and white movies, this is my birthday prayer for you.

A day filled with love, peace and beauty, and the sounds of laughter, with sunshine and joy.

and the presence of friends and family, sharing in your joy and laughter, love and serenity

building wonderful memories and the love of God surrounding you.


HAPPY BIRTHDAY and the good God grant you many, many more.


(and because I could not find cold Tusker beer and your usual birthday cake, I hope this selection of purple/lavender roses will do)


www.armstronggarden.com/Rose_Library/HybridTe...

Why this tumult?

Since 1st November (or even earlier) toy makers, perfume manufacturers, jewellers, music companies, super-markets and high street shops have been bashing our ears out with CHRISTMAS SHOPPING. For the last few weeks, we have been bombarded with cosmetics, perfumes, the latest DVD releases of obscure musicians and risque comedians, books, toys, gadgets and even per-cooked Christmas day meals.

Oh the incessant drip, drip and drip of adverts, commercials and jingles. It is enough to make one stark staring made. Buy this toy for your child; buy this one for your lover, your parent or else they will not love you. Without this ultimate gift for a loved one, Christmas is ruined.

SHOP, SHOP, SHOP. Oh and if you cannot come to the shops, do it on-line and we will be more than happy to deliver it to you.

I ask you, who on earth said that Christmas equates gifts - the biggest, splashiest and most expensive the better? Where is it written that to celebrate Christmas, we must spend, spend and spend some more?

Christmas is definitely not any of the following:

Santa Claus or his elves or the North Pole.
Or his reindeers, especially Rudolf
Shopping till you drop
The spirit of Christmas, whatever that means
The gifts – no matter the thought behind it.
The tree despite how 'festive' it looks.
Cooking a great meal for people you are obliged to see once a year
Stuffing your face until you cannot walk
Drinking until you lose all sense of proportion
'Jingle bells', a red robin, or holly or mistletoe or the Yule log.
Neither is it snow flakes, or a white Christmas as romantic as that sounds
Oh and especially the office parties where everyone forget their manners

None of above equals Christmas, and Christmas is none of the above. Unfortunately, we all fall into either one or all of the above traps, giving us a false sense of expection. Come Christmas day, there is a feeling of anti-climax. The expected joy does not come, and we are left feeling cheated and letdown. YES, we fell for the lies again, and all we are left with is an empty bank account and excess weight we shall have to spend the next three months trying to lose.

Christmas is about the birthday of Jesus – the Anointed One.


grahics from hiking-cyclingchristain.net

[Christmas]

Jamuhuri Day

Happy Jamuhuri Day to one and all.

As I was surfing the net, I saw a picture of the old Kenya Colony flag


which we exchanged for this model on 12th December 1962, amid songs, dance and much celebrations.


I hope everyone has a wonderful day. I am especially thinking of those who will have the chance to enjoy a cold Tusker and nyama choma, in the sunshine!!!!

God bless Kenya and all Kenyans - and as the posters, buttons and tee-shirts say, "Proud to be a Kenyan"


flags from www.frontiersmen.org.au/kenya.htm and www.visit-kenya.com/visit-kenya_homepage1.htm

Its been brought to my attention that I made a mistake on the year we go our independence - Sorry all - it was actually 1963 not 1962.

World AIDS Day

Today I join the rest of the world in commemorating World AIDS Day and remembering all those who have died from this disease.

According to UN AIDS and the World Health Organization, HIV/AIDS has spread to every region of the world. More than 65 million people are infected with HIV. More than 25 million people have died of AIDS since 1981, 2.9 million in 2006 alone.

I pray that a cure for this terrible pandemic will be discovered soon.


Wear the red ribbon